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This is at best a 3 to 4 star lodge and ranks lowest of the four lodges we have stayed at in this reserve. Improvements required are simple to address and in one word is summarised as management supervision. This would ensure that the rooms are cleaned properly and that there is a better variety of food, especially for lunch. Their website misrepresents their cuisine totally. Having said this, their pricing is very aggresive and it is value for money.

Room Tip: All rooms are the same with exception of the Elephant Lodge which is a suite. Best is the Lion lodge

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Stayed: March 2012, travelled as a couple

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Ask arcjnb about Jamila Game Lodge

1 Thank arcjnb

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

We would honestly encourage anyone looking for a great safari experience to go to Jamila. It was my first safari and we were a little overwhelmed trying to decide which lodge to go to. When we saw Jamila it seemed a lot more reasonably priced than other nearby lodges and whilst we worried a bit if it would become evident why when we got there, that just wasn't the case.

The bedroom lodges were great (we were in Buffalo), spacious, private with really powerful showers and jacuzzis on each balcony. There are only 5 rooms, so there can only ever be a maximum of 10 people staying. The central lodge building was clean and open, with coffee, tea, cake and water available all the time, a well stocked honesty bar, and really fantastic breakfasts and light lunches served there. The dinners were either served in this main building or outside around the fire which was really atmospheric. All the food is included in the price and you also get a carafe of house wine between two each evening as well.

The staff were really attentive, Laurance the manager is great, very interested in your stories and unlike most hotels, really seemed to 'muck in' with all the roles within the lodge.

The absolute star of the lodge has to be Justinus the driver though. He was funny, engaging, knowledgeable and a fantastic game driver. We saw some incredible sights - lion cubs playing around the truck, angry elephants, a close up with a male lion, loads of zebras and rhinos - Justinus really seemed to know his stuff and was great at following the animal tracks meaning that we were often the first truck to be calling in sightings of the big 5 animals. As a note, Justinus works 21 days on, then has 7 days off - he really did make our trip, so I would say it is worth asking if he will be there on the dates you plan to go there.

A nice touch was that every evening as you got back from the drive you'd be met with a glass of Amarula and a hot towel to wipe your hands and face - these little extras just really made the trip very special.

Whilst Waterberg is a Big 5 reserve, the majority of their buffalo are currently being raised in a closed off section of the reserve in order to boost the numbers, so we didn't see them, and the leopards also eluded us. But given we saw lions on 4 of our 6 drives, and plenty of everything else, we really didn't dwell on this at all. There were even a group of 4 rhino at the waterhole on two of the evenings we were there, so you will definitely get your fill of animals!

I should add that whilst we didn't actually use it, the swimming pool and sunbathing deck looked really lovely.

As you can tell, we had a really great time, and would wholeheartedly recommend the place to anyone!

Stayed: February 2012, travelled as a couple

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Ask Katieh1234 about Jamila Game Lodge

2 Thank Katieh1234

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

We travelled here from the Vorna Valley area, On the approach to the west gate we drove 17 kilometres of dirt road which was just about bearable, but when we arrived at our Lodge Called the Elephant it was a beauty, Fantastic inside and the food was tremendous, We stayed here 2 nights and although they do have the big five we only saw 3 of them. We really enjoyed our stay here.

Stayed: December 2011, travelled as a couple

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Ask EnglandRichard about Jamila Game Lodge

Thank EnglandRichard

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

very very nice location with breathtaking scenery + a waterhole to enhance gameviewing experience , beautiful accomodation, really excellent food, great service , that sums it up.we (party of 2) stayed 2 nights on our way to a 5 day north to south trip in kruger, and we would have traded one of the camps in Kruger for one more night in jamila hadn't it been for the hassle in changing our previous bookings.

Stayed: November 2011, travelled as a couple

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Ask mancineus about Jamila Game Lodge

Thank mancineus

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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Additional Information about Jamila Game Lodge

Address: Site 59 | Welgevonden Game Reserve, Welgevonden Game Reserve 0530, South Africa

Region:South Africa > Limpopo Province > Welgevonden Game Reserve

Amenities:

Airport Transportation

Hotel Style:

Ranked #7 of 17 Speciality Lodging in Welgevonden Game Reserve

Price Range:
£286 - £483 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)

Hotel Class:4 star — Jamila Game Lodge 4*

Number of rooms: 5

Official Description (provided by the hotel):

Jamila, meaning "a place of beauty," is a spectacular game lodge situated in the northern part of the malaria-free Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, a pristine wilderness area which includes the Big Five! Surrounded by the Ancient Waterberg Mountains, abundant wildlife and unspoiled African bush, Jamila Lodge offers guests an intimate and relaxed safari experience. With five beautifully appointed chalets, the lodge can accommodate a maximum of 10 guests at a time....more less

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Also Known As:

Jamila Game Lodge South Africa/Welgevonden Game Reserve

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